Lt. Col. Robert Moore Thacker GILLSON D.S.O.

  General Notes:

Played cricket: Radley College (Miscellaneous: 1895-1896); Free Foresters (Miscellaneous: 1925)
Wrote: "A Short History of the Wiltshire Regiment (Duke of Edinburgh's) (62nd and 99th Foot) from 1756 to 1936" published 1921.

Gillson - Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Moore Thacker, D.S.O. - Wiltshire Regiment - died 28th December 1939. Memorial at Northam church, Devon - "In loving memory of Robert Moore Thacker Gillson D.S.O. Lieut. Colonel The Wiltshire Regiment (Duke Of Edinburgh's) Born 5th April 1878 Served in The South African War 1899-1902 and The Great War 1914-1918, Died 28th Dec. 1939."

DCM London Gazette 20 September 1916:

The 2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment were part of 21st Brigade 30th Division in July 1916 and on 1st July carried supplies to forward areas. In action at Montauban, assisting 90th Brigade in holding gains in the village. Heavy casualties sustained during the enemy's bombardment and counter attacks on 2 July, relieved and to Bois des Tailles on 3 July. On 8 July the Battalion assembled in Bernafey Wood and La Briqueterie for the assault on Trones Wood and Maltz Horn Farm. 'A' Company took objective at head of Maltz Horn Valley. Remaining Companies crossing the space between Bernafey Wood and Trones swept through the southern half of the wood and later held off strong counter attacks from its northern end. There wound be great acts of bravery and leadership throughout the day. The Commanding Officer Lt Colonel Robert Moore Thacker Gillson having been wounded early in the assault, lay out in the open and refusing to be moved carried on directing his Battalion awarded the DSO (London Gazette 20 September 1916) the citation states -

'For conspicuous gallantry in action. Under very heavy fire he attacked and captured a wood. Though wounded himself he resumed command when he heard that the next senior officer (Captain F R Mumford) had been killed, and remained on duty till loss of blood compelled him to hand over to his Adjutant'.

In total two DSO's, six MC's, four DCM's and eight MM's were awarded. The War diary records 'During the whole of our stay in Trones Wood the Battalion was bombarded with heavy shells and considerable damage was done. In this action 5 officers and 28 other ranks were killed with 6 officers and 126 other ranks wounded with 14 other ranks missing'. Both Lt Colonel Gillson and Lance Corporal Merritt are mentioned in the War Diary on 11 September 1916 as being awarded the DSO and DCM respectively.

Robert married Ethel "Minna" KENWORTHY, daughter of John KENWORTHY and Mary Hannah NIELD, on 22 Sep 1909 in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales.¹ (Ethel "Minna" KENWORTHY was born about 1879 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England.)